Integrated Children's System

Closure Record

The Closure Record summarises the impact
of actions and services provided to a child and family,
and the evidence that supports the decision to close a
case. This is used when it is planned to cease work with
a child or young person and family.

A Closure Record should be completed
on all cases that progress beyond an Initial Assessment.
The Closure Record should detail the
services and interventions provided to a child or young
person and their family since the previous review or assessment
and record the reasons for the case being closed.

Key Features

Reason for social services involvement

This records a brief summary of why services
were provided to the child or young person. It may include
the reason the child or young person was originally referred
to social services, the outcome of assessments in addition
to any needs identified during the time that services
were provided.

For example, the closure Record on
Gail Reeve, aged 5 years, recorded:

Reason for Social Services Involvement

Gail’s mother, Ms Reeve, contact social
services for support following the premature birth
of Gail’s brother, Mark, on 22nd January
2001. Ms Reeve had recently moved into the area
and had no local support and was finding it difficult
to cope. An initial assessment identified that
Gail would benefit from contact with other children
and sponsored childminding was arranged. In March
2001 Ms Reeve was admitted to hospital with acute
depression. Emergency foster care was arranged
before Gail and Mark were placed with maternal
grandparents in Lincolnshire. Assistance with
funding for contact was provided during this period.
A core assessment was undertaken and a package
of support put in place to support Gail and her
brother following Ms Reeve’s discharge from
hospital in May 2001.

Details of social work interventions
since assessment/admission/last review

This records the dates that
the child or young person and other family members
were seen. For care leavers up to their 19th
birthday dates of all contact with the young
person, including letter and telephone contact
should be recorded.

Review of planned actions

This section records the outcome of the
actions and services contained within the plan for the
child or young person, along with the impact of any unplanned
services. All services received by the child/young person
should be considered, including actions to be taken by
the child or young person and their family. The actual
level of services received should be recorded.

The Closure Record follows
the domains of the Framework for the Assessment of
Children in Need and their Families. Each of the
child/young person’s developmental dimensions are
specified. There are also sections on Birth Family: Parenting
Capacity and Birth Family: Environmental Factors and Corporate
Parent: Parenting Capacity and Corporate Parent: Environmental
Factors.

Reason for Closure:

This records why it has been decided to close the
case at this time.

For example, the closure Record on Gail Reeve,
aged 5 years, recorded:

Reason for Closure

Support to Gail and Ms Reeve included child minding,
short beak care and support from a Homestart volunteer.
The review held on 27th October 2001, heard that
Mark was making satisfactory progress in all areas
of his development and Ms Reeve was in good health.
Ms Reeve had made links in the community, including
local mother and baby group. Short break care
was discontinued and it was agreed that social
services would cease involvement in February 2002,
as Gail started school. A review was held prior
to closure and as progress had continued in all
areas closure was confirmed. Ms Reeve and Homestart
aware that they can get back in contact with social
services if further support required.

Views of child/young person

Views of parent(s)/main carer(s)

The plan to close the case should
be discussed with the child or young person and their
parent(s)/main carer(s), prior to closure to enable
them comment on whether they think that closure is
appropriate at this time. It may also provide the
family with an opportunity to comment on the services
they have received.

Signatures

The closure record should be signed
by the child or young person and their parents, who
should be provided with a copy of the record.